After several journalists were blocked from the short message service Twitter, the United Nations has expressed its deep concern about the development of the online network under its new owner Elon Musk. Reporters should not be silenced by the arbitrary suspension of accounts on a platform that purports to be a space for free speech, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on Friday.
“In our view, the move sets a dangerous precedent at a time when journalists around the world are facing censorship, physical threats and worse,” Dujarric continued. We’ve seen a very worrying rise in hate speech, climate disinformation and other topics on Twitter recently. Media and government representatives around the world also sharply criticized Musk and accused him of restricting press freedom at will.
Twitter is used all over the world
The online service has developed into an important communication platform in recent years: governments, authorities and politicians use Twitter for their public relations work all over the world. Tech billionaire Musk took over Twitter in October and has since caused a stir with controversial actions.
On Thursday evening (local time), Twitter blocked the accounts of at least six prominent US journalists. Those affected included employees of the New York Timesthe Washington Post and the broadcaster CNN. The closures came without warning, the Washington Post reported. The day before, Twitter had blocked an account that could be used to track CEO Elon Musk’s private jet. Some of the journalists who have now been locked out had reported on it, as well as on Musk’s statement that he and his family had been endangered by the disclosure of location data.
Musk speaks of “coordinates for an assassination”
In several tweets on Friday night, Musk wrote that the same rules apply to journalists as to everyone else. He was referring to “doxxing,” which is the disclosure of an individual’s personal information, including information such as address. “You posted my exact real-time location, basically the coordinates for an assassination,” Musk wrote. Musk spoke of a violation of the Twitter terms of use. Several US media reported that Twitter initially did not respond to requests for a direct statement.
“Today’s suspension of the Twitter accounts of a number of prominent journalists, including Ryan Mac of The New York Times, is questionable and unfortunate,” said newspaper spokesman Charlie Stadtlander. It is hoped that the bans will be lifted. “The impulsive and unwarranted suspension of a number of reporters, including CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan, is worrying but not surprising,” CNN wrote. Many of the now blocked accounts have so far had a high reach. Journalists disseminate research and opinion pieces on the platform.
The Twitter account used to track Musk’s private jet was created by a student who used an automated computer bot to analyze publicly available flight data. Musk had in one tweet on Wednesday evening stated that the deactivated bot account violated the user guidelines of the internet platform. The Twitter boss announced in November that he was so committed to freedom of speech that he allowed the account, even though it posed a risk to his security.
The federal government also criticized the closures. The deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said on Friday in Berlin that people are taking note of what is happening on Twitter with growing concern. “We are observing this very closely and asking ourselves what consequences we could draw from it.” However, no decisions have been made yet.
The Foreign Office has a problem
The Foreign Office tweeted on Friday: “Press freedom must not be switched on and off at will.” The post referred to various blocked journalist accounts. They could no longer follow the Foreign Office, comment or criticize it. “We have a problem with that @Twitter,” it said. A spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office said: “From our point of view, freedom of the press is an extremely valuable asset and it must be defended when it is questioned, whether by states or by private actors.”
“There are red lines. And soon sanctions”
EU Commission Vice Vera Jourova threatened Musk’s company with long-term sanctions. “The news about the arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying,” wrote the Czech on the short message service on Friday. Among other things, she pointed out that the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), the provisions of which will apply throughout the EU from mid-February 2024, require respect for media freedom and fundamental rights. “There are red lines. And sanctions coming soon.”
The German Association of Journalists called on Musk to lift the bans immediately. “It is well known that Elon Musk is allergic to criticism,” says DJV national chairman Frank Überall. “The fact that he bans journalists from Twitter is a fatal restriction on press freedom.” No one gives the Twitter owner the right to use arbitrary acts to undermine the fundamental right to freedom of the press and freedom of expression.